Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-06-25
Pension Fraud.

|
n. Mills and John Ludlow, two attorneys OF
Elmira, n. Y, were arrested by agents OF
the Pension Office in Virginia on Thursday
for defrauding the Government out ola large
amount of pension money as agents for
Francis Patterson, of Emira, better known
as Blind Patterson. The total amount is
SO :3}39 80, and is the largest sum ever
maid a soldier of the late war. The
claim is an old one, and as lar as can Do
| learned the fraud was attempted by several
other attorneys on previous occasions, out IL
was not until Mills and Ludlow took up the
| case that The effort WAS successful Gatter'
son was soldier who left the service with
out the knowledge of his superior officers
and was marked up as deserter. This I'M
| fortunate circumstance in his career pre-
cluded the possibility of obtaining pension,
until about six years ago when he was Tor
tunate enough TO go absolutely Dhnd.
| His affiliations it was Immediately determ-
J ined should be used TO remove his dlsablll
! ties, and story was prepared for the bene-
fit of the Pension Office showing that
Patterson instead of being deserter
wss misused man. 1t was claimed
that while doing picket duty he had sud-
had wandered away and got lost. After
the close Of the war his atliction, it was
stated. prevented his endeavoring TO obtain
pension until some kind friends took his
case in charge and were now anxious that a
brave old soldier should obtain his due re-
ward. For some reason Pat;erson's claim
anguished and was always on the point of
falling through for lack of evidence until
Mills and Ludlow took hold Of it, when 1t
began to recover. Evidence was manufac-
tured and the claim was finally pushed
through the Pension Office, and a few weeks
ago received the final approval. The fraud
would in al probability have remained mn
discovered had not one OF the witnesses,
Wilkes J. Miller, of Elmira, become fright.
ened and made q confession; but, before
this had reached the Pension Office Mills
obtained from Patterson power OF attor-
ney, drew $4,000 of the $4,000 awarded
them from the pension agency at Syracuse
and fled, accompanied by his partner, Lud-
| low. When these occurrences were report
| ed to the Pension Office Commissioner Black
ordered thorough investigations and Spe-
cial Agent Jacobs was detailed to look for
the missing attorneys. With the assistance
| of the local detectives Jacobs asCertained
| that Mills and Ludlow had passed through
Alexandria on their way South, and soon
after he succeeded in locating them Of STAN
ardsville, small hamlet in the Blue Ridge
not far from Orange Court House. After
finding their hiding place the special agent
went to Orange Court House and secured
the assistance of Sheriff Ricketts, and his
| deputy, Charley Voolfolk, aud together they
set out for the Blue Ridge. After an all.
night drive in terrific storm they arrived
at Stanardsville st daybreall on Thursday
About six o'clock Mills was seen TO leave
the house where he was stopping, and
when about two hundred yards away he
was arrested by the special agent
and the sheriff He was then locked in a
room at tho tavern and left in charge OF
Sheriff Ricketts,, while Jacobs and Deputy
Sheriff Voolfolk proceeded to the house that
Mills had just left, where they found Lud'
low in bed After securing him the two
officers searched the room, aud found con
cealed in wardrobe box containing
81, 900 in gold coin. Mrs. Mills, the doctors
wife, who had joined him on the preceding
dav. vas also found in the house, and was
taken with her husband. The prisoners
were taken to Washington or Thursday
night, and on their arrival Mrs. Mills was
searched, and sos was found on her,
making the total amount recovered
S4,725. Yesterday Mills and Ludlow
were taken to Elmira, where they will be
held for trial. Since their arrest it has
been discovered that Mills invested $4,000
OF the stolen money in hotel in Pennsyl-
vania, besides 5000 in q lot near Orange
Court. House, so that the Government will
recover nearly all of the money that the
two attorneys obtained blind Patterson"
and Miller have botll been arrested by Pen
sion Office officials at Elmira, and the whole
party will be vigorously prosecuted.